Unai Emery sat down with the media at Bodymoor Heath on Friday afternoon ahead of Aston Villa’s Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday (3pm kick-off). Here is everything Emery said during the broadcast section of his press conference.
How carefully are you managing Watkins’ minutes?
“He is 100 per cent available to play. He has problems like other players, but I don’t think it’s relevant. Of course, sometimes we need to rest him to protect the players, but he’s fully fit and available for tomorrow.”
How is Jaden Philogene?
“He had a kick, and he was out for two weeks until the match against Everton. In the last action of that game, while dribbling, he got another kick in the same place. He’s still out and unavailable.”
Must you rotate your starting XI more than last season because of the Champions League demands?
“It depends. Last year, we had a very good experience playing in the Conference League, but the Champions League is, of course, more difficult. The experience of playing many matches last year is beneficial for this season. It depends on how the players feel after each game, but we aim to stay consistent with our ideas. We have plans with some of the players who joined in the summer. They are progressively getting better and understanding our tactical approach as well as how to play with their teammates. Tomorrow, we will select the players who are better suited tactically, physically, and mentally.”
What do you make of Wolves’ poor run of form?
“My experience in the Premier League is that every match is difficult. You must respect every team. If you want to win, you must focus and be demanding. The first objective in every match is respect. Wolves have a good coach, a good team, and good players. Last year, they beat Chelsea and Tottenham away. It’s the same coach. They played well against Nottingham Forest, and even though they lost, they deserved more against Newcastle.”
Have you had a conversation with Duran about his role under you?
“His progress is moving upwards. He arrived two years ago, and the first six months were not easy for him. But progressively, he’s played more. He had a difficult injury in pre-season last year, but he started playing around September or the end of August. His talent is evident, and he’s now playing more confidently and respecting his teammates. There’s still work to do, but he’s on the right track. I’m very happy with how he has started the season and how he trained during the summer. He was focused on staying here, which is great news. He’s playing more minutes, and as a striker, he’s helping us by scoring goals and having a good impact. The idea is for him to play in the starting XI. I don’t know if he will start tomorrow, on Tuesday, or next weekend, but he’s close and ready. We are managing his minutes, and he’s excited and motivated. After a difficult summer, he’s now fully focused, and the supporters are happy with him. Everything is going well for him, and hopefully, it continues like this for a long time.”
Has there been a feel-good factor around Bodymoor Heath after winning your first Champions League fixture?
“Yes, we’ve started the season, and we’ve only played one match in the Champions League, but we’re happy because we won. A lot happened on the pitch, which was fantastic for us. Some players made their Champions League debut, and for the supporters, playing in the Champions League after 41 years was fantastic. However, our everyday objective is the Premier League because through it, we can achieve our primary goal.”
How pleased have you been with Amadou Onana?
“Mings and Kamara have been consistently training with the team this week, which is good news. Amadou Onana, along with Barkley, Tielemans, and Kamara, is working hard to strengthen our structure and adapt to our tactical approach. His quality lies in his quick learning and adaptation.”
Were you expecting the goals he’s added to his game this season?
“He’s important in everything. We missed Tyrone Mings from set-pieces last year, both offensively and defensively. Onana’s height adds a lot to our team. He can add goals as well when he gets into the box, attacking and maintaining balance on the pitch.”
